Genesis 2:8-17.
“America has the grandest trees on earth -- the largest, the oldest, and, we think, the most beautiful. From the earliest days of our nation, vast forests greeted immigrants from around the world. These were the seemingly limitless stands of trees, of an incredible diversity and size, that Native Americans have known so well for untold centuries. America's forests made possible the building of our great nation. Whether they provided food and shelter, or the more intangible ingredients around which a culture was formed, trees were essential to our growth. And today, we rely on trees for a vast array of wood products, and for so much more. Trees cool our cities, clean our water, and anchor our soil. And trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while producing the oxygen we breathe.
Trees are also a vital link between us and the natural world, a comforting part of our daily lives, and an intimate connection with the countless other living things with which we share the good earth.
From among such a wealth of trees, the American people have done well to select one as a symbol of all our magnificent trees. And in taking part in this process, they have also learned the importance of caring for trees, and the need to plant the right tree in the right place . . . of selecting well from the vast diversity of trees which is our great gift.”
-- From remarks by National Arbor Day Foundation President John Rosenow at the national tree unveiling ceremony, Washington, D.C.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them...(Matthew 7:17-20; Revelation 11:18).
CANDIDATES FOR AMERICA'S TREE...Baldcypress...Birch ...Buckeye ...Cottonwood (Poplar) ...Dogwood ...Douglasfir ...Elm ...Hemlock ...Holly ...Kukui ...Magnolia ...Maple ...Oak ...Palm ...Paloverde ...Pecan (Hickory) ...Pine ...Redbud ...Redwood ...Spruce ...Tuliptree.
The Trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the Olive tree, Reign over us.
But the Olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
And the Trees said unto the Fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
But the Fig tree said unto them, Should I foresake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Then said the trees unto the Vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
And the Vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
Then said all the trees unto the Bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
And the Bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come, and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, LET FIRE COME OUT OF THE BRAMBLE, AND DEVOUR THE CEDARS OF LEBANON...(Judges 9:8-15).
On a perfect spring day, surrounded by tree stewards, statesmen and friends, and shaded by grand and glorious trees on the U.S. Capitol grounds, a young oak tree was planted.
This ceremonial planting took place at the unveiling of the tree chosen by a vote of the American people to select a tree that most suitably represents the spirit of America, and of its people.
It was National Arbor Day — Friday, April. 27, 2001 — and with a four-month voting process that ended at midnight the night before, the American people had chosen a National Tree — the Oak.
Sen. Ben Nelson and Congressman Bob Goodlatte announced at the ceremony that they will introduce legislation to make the oak the congressionally designated National Tree.
One (Shrub)in the midst...(Isaiah 66:15-17).
Now show them the king that they have chosen...(1 Samuel, chapter 8...KJV).
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority over them.
BUT IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU; but whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many...(Matthew 20:25-28).
“There is no aristocracy in trees. They are not haughty. They will thrive near the humblest cabin just as well as they will in the shadow of a king's palace. There is a true triumph in the unswerving integrity and genuine democracy of trees.”
J. Sterling Morton
DANIEL, CHAPTER 4...(KJV)
It has been 130 years since J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day. His simple idea of setting aside a special day for tree planting is now more important than ever... so read on to discover ways to lend a special festive flavor to your next Arbor Day celebration.
Good Ideas for a Great Arbor Day Celebration:
• Raise the flag, strike up the band, make Arbor Day fun. Make it memorable. Organize a fun run. Make it a real event. See if a local business will donate prizes. Have a poster contest, or a poetry contest. Get the local PTA to sponsor a children's pageant or play. Check out the Arbor Day Play, where the statue of J. Sterling Morton comes to life to tell the children how he "authored" this special holiday. Organize and train volunteers to help you carry out Arbor Day ceremonies in your schools.
• Get people excited. Show them things they've never seen before. Tell them things about trees they've never heard.
• Fill the air with music. Have an Arbor Day concert of songs about trees, or with tree names in their titles.
• Get people into action. Ask a civic or service group to promote a paper drive to gather paper to be recycled and save a tree. Use the proceeds to buy a special tree to plant in a park or other special public place. Ask a local radio station to sponsor a tree trivia contest and give away trees to winners. Conduct a tree search. Ask people to find large, unusual or historic trees in your community. Tell people to take a hike--a tree identification hike--and have girl scouts or boy scouts act as guides.
• Dedicate a forest, or a tree, or a flower bed in a park, and make it an occasion to talk about stewardship. Get a local nursery or garden center to hold an open house or field day. Organize an Arbor Day Fair.• Get people together. Encourage neighborhood organizations to hold block parties and get their members to adopt and care for street trees in front of their homes. Pass out buttons. Give away trees.
• Celebrate Arbor Day in a personal way by planting a tree yourself. It is an act of optimism and kindness, a labor of love and a commitment to stewardship.
• Anyone can do it. Start a tree seed in a cup, or a seedling in a pot. If you have no place to set it out later, give it to someone who does, and then watch it grow together. Find a place to plant a seedling or a sapling or the largest tree you can handle alone.
The Teacher
Behold, the Assyrian was a Cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and with shadowing shroud, and of an High Stature, and his top was among the thick boughs.
The waters (the nations) made him great, the deep set him on high with her rivers running about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the Tree of the field.
Therefore his height was exalted above all the Trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters when he shot forth...
The Cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the Fir trees were not like his boughs, and the Chestnut trees were not like his branches, nor any Tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty...(Ezekiel 31).
Please See:
The Lower Garden and the Tree of Life
Jimmy Carter, Just War Theorist